Insulating means for lamp-sockets and the like.



C. I. KLEIN.

INSULATING MEAN'S FOR LAMP SOCKETS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 17,1913.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

CHARLES KLEIN, F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAIVIMER MEG. co., 0E MILWAUKEE, wisconsin, A conronariolv 0E WISCONSIN.

maaien.

Speccation of Letters latent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

- Application led March 17, 1913. Serial No. 754,807. l

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES J. KLE1Na citizen' of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the countyof Milwaukee 'and State of Vlfiscons'in,l have invented new and useful Improvements in Insulating Means for Lamp-Sockets and the like, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exjact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

This invention -relates to lamp sockets and fllt!A ylike and more particularly lto insulatng means therefor. Such devices 'are commonly provided with casings having caps through which are received line wires, and heretofore it has been the practice to secure in the caps insulating linings to p revent contact between the same and the line wires. It has also been customary to make such linings removable and this has relquired releasable locking means on the caps.

the invention isto provide a simple and practical insulating member which may be readily mounted upon the base carried within the casing.

Another object is to provide means for insulating line conductors from lamp4 shell caps and the like, which may be easily and cheaply manufactured and which may be readily applied to the ordinary type of socket and the like. l

In order that my invention may be fully 'set forth and' clearly understood I have shown in, the accompanying drawing, for the purposes of illustration one embodiment v of the same as applied to a lampl socket of the keyless type.

In the drawing, Figure 1. is a sectional .view ofthe lamp socket and casing; Fig. 2

is a sectional view of the lamp socket taken at right angles to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top view of the conductor carrying base; and, lFig. 4 isa-perspective view of the insulatcap.. i p

1 the structure shown an msulatmg base 1 carries a screw shell 2 on its lower face.'

These parts are mounted Vin a casing comprising a metal cap 3 and a shell 4, of the usual construction. On opposite sides of the base 1 are terminals 5 to which line conductors are adapted to be connected by means of bindingv screws. Cutaway portions 6 are provided on opposite sides of the base 1 above the terminal posts for the reception of conducting wires leading to the latter. 'At rightlangles to the terminals 5 are securing screws 7 which pass through the base and hold the screw shell thereto.

In order to insulate the conducting wires leading to the terminals from the casing cap 3, or similar device, I provide an inp sulating cap or dome member 8. In the preferred form shown this insulating cap is of relatively thin fiber and dish-shaped. It has a central opening 9 in its top adapted to register with the customary central opening in the casing cap. Onthe margin of the cap, at opposite sides, are two ears or lugs 10 adapted to be bent Vinwardly to lie substantially parallel withthe upper surface of the base l. Screw holes 11 are punched in the lugs 10 and openings 12 are provided in the top of. the cap to give access to the screw holes in the lugs. The insulating cap 8 is designed to be fixed to the top of the base 1. Itis adapted to be readil. f

secured to the latter by the same screws which hold together the base-and the screw shell 2.

rI`he screws 7 4are inserted through the openings 12 in the insulating cap and enter the smaller screw holes :11 in the lugs directly therebelow.` The Shanks of thesel screws pass through the base 1 and are threaded at their lower ends into the conducting plate 13 which clamps the screw shell to the bottom of the base.

It'will be noted that-by locating the terminals 5 at substantially 90 from the screws 7, as illustrated, the conducting wires leading to the former will not pass over the latter. The base 1 is also preferably provided with oppositely disposed recesses 14 aboutthe screw holes therein and these recesses receive the attaching ears 10 on the insulating cap. The circumferential margin of the insulating cap thus fits snugly against the topof the base and the attaching ears lie flush with the upper face of the base. To additionally safeguard.l the line wires from accidental contact with the heads of the screws 7, I preferably provide barrier Walls 15 partially surrounding the recesses 14 in the base. Furthermore, if desired, the heads of the screws 7 may be sealed by insulating wax after the cap 8 is in place. It is also pointed out that unobstructed passages lead from the central opening in the insulating cap downwardly to the terminals on the base, so that the terminals 5 remain readily accessible for attachment of the line conductors without removal of the cap.

Vhile I have illustrated my improve device as applied to aA keyless lamp socket, it will be understood that it is capable oi.2 equally efficient use with key sockets, pendlent switches, and siirilar devices. The possibility and form of application of the device to such structures will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An insulating cap' for lamp sockets comprising a cup-shaped insulating disk providedwith inwardly bent marginal portions and with openings in its top to afford access to said portions.

2. In a device of the character set forth, in combination, a casing including a metal lic cap having a conductor opening, an insulating base underlying said cap and havlng terminals for connection with conductors entering said opening and a. brous lining for said cap attached to said base and forming therewith a removable unit.

3. In a device of the character set forth, in combination, a casing including a metallic cap having a conductor opening, a base 4having terminalsl for conductors entering said casing through said opening, a fibrous member for inclosing such conductors and for insulating said cap therefrom, and means independent of said cap for attaching said member to said base.

4. Ina device of the character set forth, in combination, a casing comprising a separable cap and shell, a base supported in said shell and having terminals for conductors entering said casing through said cap, a member for inclosing said conductors and for insulating ysaid cap therefrom, and

' lmeans for attaching said -member to said base, said means being independent of the means for supporting said base in said shell.

5. In combination, a lamp socket base carrying oppositely disposed terminals accessible from the sides thereof, and an insulating cap fixed to said base at oppositely disposed points substantially at right angles to said terminals, said cap having a central opening for receiving line wires adapted to be connected to said terminals without removal of said cap.

'6. In combination, a casing for lamp sockets comprising a metal cap and shell, an insulating base carried therein having terminals, and an insulating cap secured to said base by screws removed from said terminals, said base having barrier walls about said screws and said cap having an opening for receiving line wires to be connected to said terminals.

7. `In combination, a metallic casing comprising a cap and shell, means for locking the same together, a rigid insulating base inclosed within said casing, an insulating lining of ber-like material for said cap, and means independent of said first mentioned means for removably securing said lining to said base.

8. In a'lamp socket, in combination, a metallic casing having a separable conductor receiving portion, a base inf'losed Within said casing and provided 4vvith current conducting parts and an insulating lining for said conductor receiving portion of said casing separably secured to said base and relate said cap when the parts of said casing i are assembled about said base. 4

10. In combination, a base for the current carrying parts of a lamp socket provided 'with oppositely disposed recesses in. its

upper face and barrier Walls partiall surrounding said recesses, anda cup-s aped inwardly bent marginal ears adapted to enter said recesses and be secured to said base.

March 10, 1913.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed niy name in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES J. KLEIN. IVitnesses:

lvLEONARD A. VATsoN FRANK I-I. HUBBARD Copies o f this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

. insulating disk having' oppositely disposed 

